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| Vote-by-Mail Ballot Requests Overwhelm New York City Elections Agency | Vote-by-Mail Ballot Requests Overwhelm New York City Elections Agency |
| (8 days later) | |
| The absentee ballot sent to Lynn Cartwright-Punnett, a voter in Harlem, arrived without the return envelope. The campaign office of Representative Eliot Engel fielded complaints from constituents about envelopes arriving with no ballot inside. | The absentee ballot sent to Lynn Cartwright-Punnett, a voter in Harlem, arrived without the return envelope. The campaign office of Representative Eliot Engel fielded complaints from constituents about envelopes arriving with no ballot inside. |
| And more than 29,000 residents of New York City who requested a ballot have yet to receive a ballot or envelope from the city’s Board of Elections with three days left before primary elections on Tuesday. | And more than 29,000 residents of New York City who requested a ballot have yet to receive a ballot or envelope from the city’s Board of Elections with three days left before primary elections on Tuesday. |
| As New York whipsawed this spring from postponing its statewide primary to partially canceling it to rescheduling for next week, the state — the fourth largest in the country — undertook a frantic reinvention of its electoral system at a scale yet unseen in other places that scrambled to hold elections amid the coronavirus pandemic. In New York City, that has meant dealing with a 10-fold increase in mail-in ballot requests. | As New York whipsawed this spring from postponing its statewide primary to partially canceling it to rescheduling for next week, the state — the fourth largest in the country — undertook a frantic reinvention of its electoral system at a scale yet unseen in other places that scrambled to hold elections amid the coronavirus pandemic. In New York City, that has meant dealing with a 10-fold increase in mail-in ballot requests. |
| Now, as the city braces for voting in several closely watched congressional primaries, election officials are growing concerned that thousands of voters who applied for a mail-in ballot will not receive theirs in time to mail them back by Tuesday’s postmark deadline. | Now, as the city braces for voting in several closely watched congressional primaries, election officials are growing concerned that thousands of voters who applied for a mail-in ballot will not receive theirs in time to mail them back by Tuesday’s postmark deadline. |
| “If they haven’t mailed all the absentee ballots by Friday, voters aren’t going to get them by Tuesday,” said Douglas Kellner, a co-chair of the New York State Board of Elections. | “If they haven’t mailed all the absentee ballots by Friday, voters aren’t going to get them by Tuesday,” said Douglas Kellner, a co-chair of the New York State Board of Elections. |
| The rapid adjustment to mail-in voting, in a state that previously had strict limitations on the procedure, also means that final results will likely not be known for weeks. Existing state law mandates that absentee ballots cannot be counted until eight days after the election, when all in-person votes have been tabulated, and must be double-checked against in-person records. | The rapid adjustment to mail-in voting, in a state that previously had strict limitations on the procedure, also means that final results will likely not be known for weeks. Existing state law mandates that absentee ballots cannot be counted until eight days after the election, when all in-person votes have been tabulated, and must be double-checked against in-person records. |
| The massive surge in absentee ballots means that some closely contested races will probably not be decided based on in-person vote totals released Tuesday night, and some campaigns could be waiting well into July to learn if they were victorious. | The massive surge in absentee ballots means that some closely contested races will probably not be decided based on in-person vote totals released Tuesday night, and some campaigns could be waiting well into July to learn if they were victorious. |
| Voters who had not received their ballots by Friday could still vote in-person, either at early polling sites through Sunday or on Tuesday. | Voters who had not received their ballots by Friday could still vote in-person, either at early polling sites through Sunday or on Tuesday. |
| Frederic M. Umane, who serves as secretary of the city’s appointed Board of Elections, said the agency has been hobbled this election season by a variety of problems tied to the pandemic: The deaths and illnesses of elections employees; difficulty finding the 3.5 million envelopes that were needed; a shortage of poll workers; necessary precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 at polling places; and the surge in absentee ballot applications. | Frederic M. Umane, who serves as secretary of the city’s appointed Board of Elections, said the agency has been hobbled this election season by a variety of problems tied to the pandemic: The deaths and illnesses of elections employees; difficulty finding the 3.5 million envelopes that were needed; a shortage of poll workers; necessary precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 at polling places; and the surge in absentee ballot applications. |
| “This is a very difficult task we’re trying to do with limited staff,” said Mr. Umane, a Manhattan lawyer, who said that some elections employees are working 15-hour days to prepare for Tuesday. | “This is a very difficult task we’re trying to do with limited staff,” said Mr. Umane, a Manhattan lawyer, who said that some elections employees are working 15-hour days to prepare for Tuesday. |
| Despite the difficulties, Mr. Umane predicted that only a small percentage of people will not receive their ballots. “For the most part, people are getting their ballots,” he said. | Despite the difficulties, Mr. Umane predicted that only a small percentage of people will not receive their ballots. “For the most part, people are getting their ballots,” he said. |
| The roughly 29,000 people who have yet to get their ballots represent about four percent of the 708,000 who have requested and received their ballots as of Wednesday, and it is possible that some of those 29,000 applications include ineligible voters. But any possible disenfranchisement is a stain on the electoral process, and several voters expressed frustration as they waited to receive ballots. | The roughly 29,000 people who have yet to get their ballots represent about four percent of the 708,000 who have requested and received their ballots as of Wednesday, and it is possible that some of those 29,000 applications include ineligible voters. But any possible disenfranchisement is a stain on the electoral process, and several voters expressed frustration as they waited to receive ballots. |
| Leslie Ehrlich, a financial services professional who lives in Manhattan, said she had applied twice for an absentee ballot, but had not received one as of Wednesday. | Leslie Ehrlich, a financial services professional who lives in Manhattan, said she had applied twice for an absentee ballot, but had not received one as of Wednesday. |
| “I have really tried hard,” Ms. Ehrlich said. “I’ll go vote in person, if necessary, but I would prefer to vote by mail.” With her frustration mounting on Tuesday, Ms. Ehrlich tweeted to the Board of Elections: | “I have really tried hard,” Ms. Ehrlich said. “I’ll go vote in person, if necessary, but I would prefer to vote by mail.” With her frustration mounting on Tuesday, Ms. Ehrlich tweeted to the Board of Elections: |
| Ms. Ehrlich said she first applied online through the board’s website on May 8. Two or three weeks ago, she received a mailer from Representative Carolyn Maloney with a preprinted form that voters could send in to the Board of Elections to request a ballot. (Ms. Maloney is facing a competitive primary on Tuesday against Suraj Patel.) | Ms. Ehrlich said she first applied online through the board’s website on May 8. Two or three weeks ago, she received a mailer from Representative Carolyn Maloney with a preprinted form that voters could send in to the Board of Elections to request a ballot. (Ms. Maloney is facing a competitive primary on Tuesday against Suraj Patel.) |
| Ms. Ehrlich said she sent that form as well, but has yet to receive a response. Her husband, who sent his application in a priority mail envelope, also has not received his ballot. | Ms. Ehrlich said she sent that form as well, but has yet to receive a response. Her husband, who sent his application in a priority mail envelope, also has not received his ballot. |
| Daniel Ensign also lives in Ms. Maloney’s district, on the Upper East Side, but recently has been holed up at his parents’ house in Louisville, riding out the pandemic. Mr. Ensign said he first applied for an absentee ballot on May 15, then emailed the Board of Elections twice to inquire about it, but has not yet received it. | Daniel Ensign also lives in Ms. Maloney’s district, on the Upper East Side, but recently has been holed up at his parents’ house in Louisville, riding out the pandemic. Mr. Ensign said he first applied for an absentee ballot on May 15, then emailed the Board of Elections twice to inquire about it, but has not yet received it. |
| It was only after he tweeted his frustration that the board responded. | It was only after he tweeted his frustration that the board responded. |
| “They did reply to my tweet asking me to DM them, which I did,” Mr. Ensign said Wednesday. “I sent them a message and they basically said: ‘We’re finalizing your absentee ballot request. You can still go vote in person if you don’t want to wait.’” But Mr. Ensign does not plan to return to New York to vote. | “They did reply to my tweet asking me to DM them, which I did,” Mr. Ensign said Wednesday. “I sent them a message and they basically said: ‘We’re finalizing your absentee ballot request. You can still go vote in person if you don’t want to wait.’” But Mr. Ensign does not plan to return to New York to vote. |
| “I think it’s very frustrating,” said Mr. Ensign, an operations consultant. “I’ve always tried to make sure and vote. With the pandemic going on, everyone deserves the right to vote. Mr. Ensign said he is leaning toward voting for Ms. Maloney, who is facing a rematch challenge from Mr. Patel. | “I think it’s very frustrating,” said Mr. Ensign, an operations consultant. “I’ve always tried to make sure and vote. With the pandemic going on, everyone deserves the right to vote. Mr. Ensign said he is leaning toward voting for Ms. Maloney, who is facing a rematch challenge from Mr. Patel. |
| Ms. Cartwright-Punnett said she suspects the missing return envelope in her ballot packet is a widespread problem, based on the response she got when she called the Board of Elections. | Ms. Cartwright-Punnett said she suspects the missing return envelope in her ballot packet is a widespread problem, based on the response she got when she called the Board of Elections. |
| “The woman knew what I was going to say even before I got the sentence out,” she said. | “The woman knew what I was going to say even before I got the sentence out,” she said. |
| Many without ballots have struggled to get a response from the overwhelmed city Board of Elections. A staff member in State Senator Liz Krueger’s office called on Thursday to inquire about her ballot and was greeted with a computerized voice saying there were 49 calls in line, according to Ms. Krueger, who has raised concerns that all those who requested ballots will not receive them. | Many without ballots have struggled to get a response from the overwhelmed city Board of Elections. A staff member in State Senator Liz Krueger’s office called on Thursday to inquire about her ballot and was greeted with a computerized voice saying there were 49 calls in line, according to Ms. Krueger, who has raised concerns that all those who requested ballots will not receive them. |
| Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the problems are evidence of structural issues and that “it is time to abolish the board as it is currently constituted.” | Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the problems are evidence of structural issues and that “it is time to abolish the board as it is currently constituted.” |
| Updated August 24, 2020 | |
| “Obviously, they had known for a long time that people were going to be overwhelmingly voting by mail,” Mr. de Blasio said on Wednesday. | “Obviously, they had known for a long time that people were going to be overwhelmingly voting by mail,” Mr. de Blasio said on Wednesday. |
| In addition, the city has been unable to say with certainty whether any polling locations will be closed or consolidated because of the coronavirus, and state election officials note that the delays in absentee ballot mailings could lead to more voters in person on Tuesday. | In addition, the city has been unable to say with certainty whether any polling locations will be closed or consolidated because of the coronavirus, and state election officials note that the delays in absentee ballot mailings could lead to more voters in person on Tuesday. |
| In states like Wisconsin, Georgia and Pennsylvania, a sudden shortage in poll workers, combined with the relocation of some sites away from vulnerable populations like nursing homes, forced the states to consolidate polling locations, often in densely populated areas, leading to lines that were hours long. | In states like Wisconsin, Georgia and Pennsylvania, a sudden shortage in poll workers, combined with the relocation of some sites away from vulnerable populations like nursing homes, forced the states to consolidate polling locations, often in densely populated areas, leading to lines that were hours long. |
| Valerie Vazquez-Diaz, a spokeswoman for the Board of Elections, could not offer any details on potentially consolidated polling locations, but said the board was not concerned about staffing. | Valerie Vazquez-Diaz, a spokeswoman for the Board of Elections, could not offer any details on potentially consolidated polling locations, but said the board was not concerned about staffing. |
| “We are confident that we will have a sufficient number of poll workers,” Ms. Vazquez-Diaz said. “And we have taken precautions to ensure the safety of both poll workers and voters with all the safety measures we’ve taken.” | “We are confident that we will have a sufficient number of poll workers,” Ms. Vazquez-Diaz said. “And we have taken precautions to ensure the safety of both poll workers and voters with all the safety measures we’ve taken.” |
| Nonetheless, some poll workers have said they won’t be working on Tuesday. | Nonetheless, some poll workers have said they won’t be working on Tuesday. |
| “I chose not to work this election as a poll worker because the B.O.E. never communicated with poll workers what they were doing to keep workers safe (they only asked if I was willing to work, but no one who called seemed to know about safety precautions for poll workers),” Jan Combopiano, who has served as poll worker since 2016, said in an email message. “Protecting voters is important, but so is protecting workers.’’ | “I chose not to work this election as a poll worker because the B.O.E. never communicated with poll workers what they were doing to keep workers safe (they only asked if I was willing to work, but no one who called seemed to know about safety precautions for poll workers),” Jan Combopiano, who has served as poll worker since 2016, said in an email message. “Protecting voters is important, but so is protecting workers.’’ |
| Another concern is that the training, both for new poll workers and to help refresh the memory of returning poll workers, had to be canceled because of the coronavirus lockdown. | Another concern is that the training, both for new poll workers and to help refresh the memory of returning poll workers, had to be canceled because of the coronavirus lockdown. |
| “They need to find people, (a) who are willing to work and (b) that have already received training,” said David Marangio, a site coordinator at P.S. 264 in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, who is also working during the early voting period. | “They need to find people, (a) who are willing to work and (b) that have already received training,” said David Marangio, a site coordinator at P.S. 264 in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, who is also working during the early voting period. |
| Mr. Umane said the agency has worked to protect workers and voters by purchasing 10,000 plastic shields, among other precautions. | Mr. Umane said the agency has worked to protect workers and voters by purchasing 10,000 plastic shields, among other precautions. |
| “Poll workers will be on one side, voters on the other,” he said. | “Poll workers will be on one side, voters on the other,” he said. |
| Turnout during the first four days of early in-person voting was slow, with 15,862 voters casting ballots in the five boroughs. That modest level of early voting, coupled with the delayed mail-in ballot response, is likely to cause some lines at the polls on Tuesday. | Turnout during the first four days of early in-person voting was slow, with 15,862 voters casting ballots in the five boroughs. That modest level of early voting, coupled with the delayed mail-in ballot response, is likely to cause some lines at the polls on Tuesday. |
| “We’re pretty optimistic that Election Day will be manageable,” said Mr. Kellner. “But in light of the mailing problems, I think that there will be a fair number of people who have not received their absentee ballots who go to vote in person. So there may be lines on Tuesday which have not materialized for early voting.” | “We’re pretty optimistic that Election Day will be manageable,” said Mr. Kellner. “But in light of the mailing problems, I think that there will be a fair number of people who have not received their absentee ballots who go to vote in person. So there may be lines on Tuesday which have not materialized for early voting.” |
| Dana Rubinstein contributed reporting from New York. | Dana Rubinstein contributed reporting from New York. |